Kindness is What Drives the Soul: Chessed at Scheck Hillel 

Embedded in Scheck Hillel’s mission, chessed (kindness) is the driving force behind many of our school activities. Middle school students are involved in over 10 ongoing chessed projects, where they work hard to give back to the local communities and continue spreading joy to those who need it most.  

One of these projects is at Regents Park, a nursing home located across the street from Hillel. Students visit during lunch, joining the residents as they eat their meal. “The residents thrive,” said Chessed Program Coordinator Sari Mizrahi. “They love having conversations with our kids!” 

Most recently, students rallied together in support of Israeli soldiers following the devastation resulting from the Hamas attack. Scheck Hillel middle schoolers worked with the Skylake Synagogue in North Miami Beach, helping to sort, package, and label the donations sent in by the community. They also wrote letters to IDF soldiers. Skylake is still accepting donations, and Hillel is conducting a donation drive on campus where families can bring in items for the troops. 

Sari emphasized the importance of chessed and community involvement as key elements in a young person’s development. “This is what shapes these children into good human beings, and gives them characteristics they will not learn in other places,” she said. “Kindness is what drives the soul.”

Any middle school student hoping to get more involved should email Sari directly (mizrahi@eHillel.org) to learn more about these opportunities for involvement: